Friday, August 8, 2008

The Candy Gram: Ginger Valentine

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Ginger Valentine.

What is your hometown?Dallas

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?My mother put me in dance class at the age of three because I kept putting on "shows" for my parents. I studied jazz, ballet and tap, but as I got older, I fell in love with ballet. I originally wanted to be a ballerina, and I was for a while after I graduated, but weak ankles and knee surgery made me hang up my pointe shoes. I had been interested in burlesque, vaudeville and cabaret-style entertainment all my life because I grew up watching old movies and musicals. The first time I saw Cabaret though, that's when I knew I had to do something like that. At the time I just didn't know how to get started.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?None! The troupe I perform in, The Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque, is a vaudevillian burlesque troupe and we don't strip down to pasties. Our shows are similar to the shows in the musical Cabaret.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?Harlem Nocturne, This Business of Love, The Stripper -- it's classic!

What three items could you not live without as a performer?Glitter, Revlon's Love that Red lipstick, and my curlers

Who had the biggest influence on your career?Bob Fosse. I love his style, I love his everything.

Who is your favorite burly queen?Gypsy Rose Lee. She was so funny. I named my cat after her.

What is your favorite item of clothing?I got a red silk kimono for Christmas last year. It's covered with tiny white hearts and I love it. It's my uniform around the house.

What's the last movie you saw?Oh no! Do I have to answer honestly? The last movie I saw was Splash with Darryl Hannah and Tom Hanks. I love that movie! Eugene Levy is in it as well, and he's hilarious.

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